dimanche 12 décembre 2021

All Around My Hat by José: 35th anniversary


35 years ago, in late 1986, RCA released José Hoebee's single "All Around My Hat". This record was a cover version of an English folk song made famous in 1975 by Steeleye Span.

Although it was a mainstream success, this beautiful cover (produced by Hans Vermeulen and Will Hoebee) is still appreciated by the fans. Click here for information on this underestimated single.

dimanche 5 décembre 2021

40th anniversary of José's solo debut record "I'm So Sorry" (1981 - 2021)


Forty years ago precisely, December 5th, 1981 saw a milestone in José Hoebee's career when her debut solo single "I'm So Sorry" entered the Dutch Tipparade (the Bubbling Under Top 40 chart). Let's celebrate the 40th anniversary of José's solo career!!! Click here to read a detailed article about this special event.

Source: Luvgirlgroup.com 

dimanche 19 septembre 2021

José Hoebee reacts to Jody Pijper's performance on The Voice Senior


On September 17th, José Hoebee reacted to Jody Pijper's performance during the blind auditions of RTL4's talent show "The Voice Senior", which drew 978.000 viewers (market share: 20.5%). This music competition is only open to singers who are over 60. 

Angela Groothuizen (of Dolly Dots), Ilse DeLange, Frans Bauer and Gerard Joling are on the jury. Jody Pijper sang "Desperado" (a song by The Eagles). All chairs of the jury members (except Angela Groothuizen's one) turned around.

Even though José is still offline two years after announcing her illness, she posted her reaction through her fan page on Facebook. Here's what the former Luv' singer wrote: "Dear friends, I am still busy with health issues. However, I want to tell you something. I've watched The Voice Senior. And who was performing? Jody Pijper, the best singer in my opinion. I'm not the only one who thinks that. She was a background singer with a unique sound. She also had her own hits in addition to her vocals for famous artists. Every member of the jury turned around. Gerard shouted "Hey Jody!" before the rest turned around. Except for one who explained that her singing was too "insecure". Hallooo...Jody is an icon who is very experienced. My requirement for my solo projects was: "I want Jody and Hans Vermeulen for backup vocals". I think this remark was very arrogant and I don't understand it. I'm not deaf so it's a very unfair comment. Sorry, I had to say it...Lots of Love, José".

Among all the projects Jody Pijper took part in were the world-famous Stars on 45 records in the early 1980s. In 1985, she recorded background vocals on Bonnie St Claire & José Hoebee's legendary album "Herinnering" (including Dutch cover versions of ABBA songs). In 1999, José and Jody recorded the Dutch version of the soundtrack of Jellabies (an Australian children's animated television series). In 2018, both ladies and many other artists performed in a musical tribute to Hans Vermeulen. Read the article posted on April 8th, 2018: All About LUV' (past, present, future and more): Musical tribute to Hans Vermeulen (featuring José Hoebee) (luvgirlgroup.blogspot.com)

Jody Pijper, José Hoebee & Anita Meyer backstage at the tribute show to Hans Vermeulen (2018)

Source: José Hoebee's Fan Page (Facebook), RTL 4, SKO, YouTube

dimanche 22 août 2021

Rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Don Everly dies at age 84: José Hoebee's reaction

Montage by Marco Rens

Earlier today, the media announced Don Everly's death at age 84. This rock ‘n’ roll pioneer was part of The Everly Brothers with his brother Phil who passed away in 2014. 

Will Hoebee and Don Everly

Don and his younger brother Phil were in the first group to be inaugurated in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, alongside Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis. Their family harmonies set them apart, as did an out-of-time gentleness: the Everly Brothers’ well-crafted songs floated between country and city and moved with the rhythms of a dream.

In a five-year span from 1957 to 1962, they had 15 top 10 hits on the US Billboard Hot 100, among them: “Bye Bye Love”, which launched them; “All I Have to Do Is Dream,” written by Boudleaux Bryant; and “Cathy’s Clown,” which was a No. 1 hit in 1960 and a No. 1 country hit for Reba McEntire in 1989.

Bye Bye Love by The Everly Brothers

Their harmonies influenced the Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel in the 1960s, and a decade later, their Appalachian roots inspired country rockers like Gram Parsons and Linda Ronstadt, who had a hit covering their “When Will I Be Loved” in 1972.

The Everly Brothers were among José Hoebee's musical heroes and inspirations. The former Luv' singer mentioned them in interviews. On July 1st, 2014, as she talked to Sonja van Stek on her radio show "Lunchpakket" on Bingo FM, José said that she dreamt of recording a duet with Don Everly

Read the article posted on July 1st, 2014: All About LUV' (past, present, future and more): José: interview on Bingo FM (luvgirlgroup.blogspot.com)

"Don once performed in the Netherlands. He went solo as he was not on speaking terms with Phil. Fortunately, they were reconciled laterDon knew Will (Hoebee) from Nashville, where he recorded music with Saskia and Serge and invited us to his concert in the Netherlands. We even saw him backstage. What a pity we don't have pictures of this moment. I've always been a huge fan of The Everly Brothers,José told Marco Rens and me when asked to react to Don's passing.  


Montage by Marco Rens

Our condolences go to Don's family, friends and fans. 

Source: The Guardian, Rolling Stones, Los Angeles Times, Marco Rens...

samedi 14 août 2021

José Hoebee offline: the singer's fan page puts the record straight


Photo by Peter Boonstra

On August 8th, José Hoebee's Fan Page on Facebook posted a message to confirm that the singer was "still offline and not ready to answer all the private messages she received" nearly two years after the announcement of her illness. However, the fan page informed that José was "touched by all the kind DMs she got but could not answer them due to her ill health". It added that when she felt better, she would reactivate her personal Facebook page. The administrators insisted that they would not answer personal questions about her health. 


Shortly afterwards, Dutch websites specialized in celebrity gossips "Shownieuws.nl", "DitjesenDatjes.nl", and "Story.nl" reported the message of José Hoebee's Fan Page.

Source: José Hoebee's Fan Page (Facebook), Shownieuws, Ditjes en Datjes, Story...

mardi 3 août 2021

José Hoebee in Story: "The ball's in Bonnie's court now!"


The latest issue of Story Magazine features an article about José Hoebee. This item is published following a recent article in De Telegraaf in which the singer complained that she and Bonnie St. Claire had not been on speaking terms for years. Read the article posted on July 25th, 2021: All About LUV' (past, present, future and more): Marga & José's latest news: Marga Scheide at Hans Klok's premiere / José Hoebee in De Telegraaf (luvgirlgroup.blogspot.com)

José was surprised when she received a copy of Bonnie's recent biography. "Bonnie and I haven't been in contact for years. I don't know the real reason. Maybe it is due to her husband Anne Jan, maybe not. But one thing is sure: we haven't talked for years. That's why I was shocked when I got a copy of her book. Her manager sent it to me, but Bonnie must know it. I consider it a first sign to get in touch again. In her book, she's very positive about us. Only beautiful memories of fantastic times, and she gently wrote them. I was so happy about it," José told Story

The former Luv' singer is not in good shape one year and a half after the group's break-up. She retired from show business in her native little town, Best. She has no energy to get up for two hours daily. She was supposed to attend the "Hans Klok & Friends" premiere with Marga Scheide, but she cancelled her presence at the last minute. "I felt pain. Such an afternoon was too much for me. It's a pity because I consider Hans, a dear friend of mine. I still have my oral tic. Fortunately, I don't lose weight anymore. But eating is still difficult. I eat space food, and I mix it with cake. So I can maintain my weight," José explained. "I have an appointment at a health centre specialized in tics in Eindhoven. There's an eight-week waiting list. I have to be patient. I hope they'll be able to help me. It would change my life," she added. 

"It would be so nice if Bonnie and I could meet again. We spent so many good years together. The two of us with our husbands. Albert (her then-spouse) and Will even ran a company together. I want our friendship back," José said. 

Recently, Bonnie reacted to José's comments. The blonde singer told Story that it took her years to overcome her own problems (alcohol, family...) and that she was not angry at José. "I feel good when I hear that. But the ball's in Bonnie court now. I am waiting for her call," José replied. 

Click on the images to enlarge them:




Moreover, Bonnie gave another interview published this week in Weekend magazine. When asked if she had planned a reunion with José, Bonnie answered: "No, not at the moment because she lives in Best. We were very close when we recorded our album with ABBA covers. We met very often back then. Her late husband Will (who died too soon) produced my records". When asked if she was about to call José, Bonnie said: "Yes, it's going to happen. There have been unpleasant stories. I want to talk to her about them without media around".

Click on the images to enlarge them:




Source: Story, Weekend, José Hoebee Fan Page (Facebook), Co Rnz

jeudi 27 mai 2021

35th anniversary of "Bonnie en José in Zweden" (TV special): Tribute to ABBA's music!!!



On May 27th, 1986 Dutch TV channel NCRV broadcast "Bonnie en José in Zweden", a special filmed in Stockholm and the surrounding area. Bonnie St Claire and José Hoebee performed cover versions of ABBA songs in Dutch: "Chiquitita", "Herinnering" (Andante, Andante), "Ligt dat nou aan jou, of aan mij" (Why Did It Have To Be Me?), "Zoals vrienden doen" (The Way Old Friends Do) and "Flierefluiter" (The Piper)



Credits:
Special thanks to Silja Line/Finnjet
Clothing: Tom Touch, O'Neill
Production: Albert Hol, Will Hoebee
Local producer: Peter Ohlsson
Video editing: Dick Verkeke
Camera: Tjeerd Broekhuizen
VTR: John Davelaar
Directed by Bert van der Veer
Double Entertainment/NCRV - 1986


These tracks were taken from the ladies' LP entitled "Herinnering" released by RCA Records in late 1985 (see article posted on December 7th, 2020). At the time, Bonnie & José were respectively married to Albert Hol and Will Hoebee. The two couples were involved in the artist management company "Double Entertainment". 

Last autumn, the Herinnering album was reissued by CD-Licious on CD thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign. This Deluxe Edition featured bonus tracks and a DVD (including the TV special).


DVD menu (including Bonnie & José in Zweden) as part of the Herinnering 2020 reissue



The TV special was a logical step in the duo's career after a series of ABBA-oriented projects.

In 1984, Bonnie and José decided to team up to cover songs of the Swedish Fab Four in Dutch long before the revival of interest in the music of the quartet. Their first duet single "Cassandra" peaked at #24 on the Top 40 and #19 on the Nationale Hitparade in the Netherlands (see article posted on July 7th, 2019). In 1985, they were involved in the AbbaCaDaBra TV musical (see article posted on March 16th, 2020). Later that year, they put out the single "Zoals Vrienden Doen" (the cover of ABBA's The Way Old Friends Do). The track became the signature song of the duo. It reached #36 on the Top 40 and #18 on the Nationale Hitparade (see article posted on August 3rd, 2020). Then they put out a full-length album. 

The highlights of the TV special were the "Herinnering" video (filmed in ABBA's Polar Studios in Stockholm) and the appearance of Björn Ulvaeus (member of the legendary pop band) who gave an interview in which he approved the recordings of the ladies. 






Björn Ulvaeus

The broadcast of "Bonnie en José in Zweden" was mentioned in the press (including in the Privé section (entertainment news) of De Telegraaf and in AVRO Gids).



 "Privé" section of De Telegraaf on May 27th, 1986, the day of the broadcast of the ladies' TV special. Click here to read the article online


AVRO Gids

As the Herinnering album hit the stores, José gave birth to a beautiful son named Tim on October 14th, 1985. In an article published in Weekend magazine in April 1986 about the singer's motherhood, Bonnie & José's TV special was also announced.  

Click on the images to enlarge them:





Source: Beeld en Geluid, YouTube, Delphner.nl, Facebook (Jos Theuns - José Hoebee Mijn Idool, Herinnering - Bonnie & José), Luv' weblog archives